Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-12-21
fcoulinued from hrss psge.l

ADJ ko0A &u AutrICSt III tiss X
affairs concerning the welfare Of the entire
people. He was good governor, one Of 'hs +
hest we have ever had in the State
II do not say be never made Il
mistake or erred 10 Judgment. To argue fhi.
|woun be to claim more than any human /
|being can fulfil. do believs
he tried conscientiousIy TO de
Eue right. On the temperance question b |
,ok decided stand and insisted that the la |
|.houid be enforced and if officers did not
their duty, on receiving evidence TO tina
feet he would remove them His positio
m this question has been Of great value I.
he cause. and il 80 regarded BY all earnef
temterance workers and his death is sincerel
nourned by all temperance organizations /
be State.
In social life the charm of his characte
sas revealed He had kind word for every
,ody. His children felt free with him. Hi
ittle grandson was his pride and delight. /
gas my privilege 10 years ago 10 knowof hi
.ome life, and since that time I have see.
i'm often. and be was always the kind
riendly. helpful man. In his home he Lar
side perpleIing business cares and entered
ato the pleasures and enjoyments of hi
nests with his famiiy--a kind and iniuigen
ather, a considerable and affectionate hus
and. How many young men he has helpe
succeed What acts of charity continual,
lowed from his open hand The best evi
.ence Of his worth is found in the universe
orrow seen and expressed by the citizens 81
lis CITY and State. The evidence of his liber
,lity and justice to his workmen is found il
heir sad hearts and fearful faces. He wa
| rusted and loved by them all. He wrought
se say in stone, and all over our land in mos
If our States are buildings and monument
howng the strength and extent of his bust
rcss life, but his greatest achievement wa
the building of his character for the MAJ
| vas greater than his work. They said oil
am =" He il making his fortune" and tina
|they all could see. That they praised, ans
aid "He is an industrious and exceilen
business man and is getting rich" respee
ball that for what il is worth. But behind his
fortune there was rising up his character, ston'
'npou stone, brick upon brick, story aftel
|story. For il is true that the man behind the
york 10 what counts. and after SO years Of
effort. that was accomplished, and the great
angel death came and removed the scaffold
ng and revealed the complete manhood.
Governor Bodwell welded great infu-
|ence in this community and wherever lac was
known. What is the explanation Of this fact:
| BY virtue of what quality did his opinion al
ways command respect! What drew to hin
|the many who from all classes and all strait
|of life sought his COUNSEL Was it that his
Experience and training fitted him to speak
with authority most practical ques-
lions? Undoubtedly it was th.
coupled with a deeper fact, for his was cul-
cure of a certain kind and not mere intellec-
Lual proficiency. His whole nature wa
broadly based in a moral or religions sense
And this is the prominent feature in the man
life His intellect, his affections and desires,
while they lacked nothing of power in them
selves, were always subject to his feeling,
If duty The degree in which conscience,
found expression through whatever he said Of
lid gave him a very rare and remarkable
manhood. Joseph II. Bodwell was what h,
seemed to be. One might safely challeng,
any person to say that closer Acquaintance,
with him ever resulted in disappointment. n,
I1ne ever penetrated behind an appearance il
his life to find emptiness and unreality Mos
people reveal weaknesses to their intimat,
friends of which the world does not suspect
hem. But | am told by those who hav,
Known him intimately from his earliest year
hat this man exposed no more faults to thost
Immediately about him than to the eye 81
,ociety. A generous. christian gentleman.
| The manhood of Governor Bodwell was gen
line at every point. How thoroughly rea
land good in his strength it needed somethin,
more than business or partial Acquaintance
with him to appreciate. His earthly house $,
full of life and purpose but few days age
low lies here in state, idle and silent
But there does stand resting on the roel
IT ages aud reaching far III
uto the heavens the great, brave characte
which the man has built in the everlasting
sunlight of God, itself as everlasting and al
ways AS fair Thus his noblcst work vii
endure forever.
His charity was as unostentatous as tn,
lew in summer. blessing the giver by tn
motive the receiver BY the quicker life am
ruer growth in human brotherhood. Ever
he daily press never accused his charity o.
icing done for public notice and praise. 4
nan of good judgment, good common sense
,areful. exact, methodical, dillgent, he wa.
Iot man of great learning He had not III
common culture of the mind, but in respect o.
he greater faculties of conscience, affection
he religious element, he possessed them al
II marked degree. He was well born, vel
bred, eminently well disciplined by himself
tie was temperate in all his habits. neyel
ised liquors of any kind. BY theory anc
practice he set an example of sobricty
Learning to economize early in life, h,
laid the foundation for his fortune ii
he habits of economy. probity ant
honesty which marked him AS the uprighi
nan and citizen whom thousands rise up tc
honor this day. Here was man who knew
| the difference between the means of living
md the true ends of life. He knew the tru'
|use of riches. They served as a material
basis for great manly excellence. His use OF
money was a power To make those dear to hin
Happy, to feed. to clothe, to house ami warn
md comfort needy men. means to educate,
|the mind to cheer the affections, to bless the
soul. 1t can be said of him as truly as wa.
said of one of New Englands great philan
|thropists "To many poor boy, to many Al
sad mother he gave n merry Christmas on tn,
earth and now in due time God has taken
him to celebrate Christmas and new year i
lay in heaven"
Is it necessary after all this has been said
n so many ways, and by people of al
shades of opinion, the testimony from all
sources, the sorrow in his own city and all over
the State, to say that Joseph X. Bodwell wa,
l. deeply religious man? All these traits OF
character constitute a christian. If they dc
rot, so much the worse Tor christianity, NOR,
|snd more We are testing a mans piety, noi|
|by what he says, but by his deeds. b,
their fruits We shall know them" Not pro
|tession, but character is the test. and whei
I'VE have said man was honest, just aud
loving conscienciously, faithful in all tn
relations of life, we have said he was trul,
religious. There are some of whom when they
lie il is thought forcible praise to sa,
that they had no religion TO speak of
meaning, suppose, that their religion
Twas too vital. too real and deep 10 be
spoken of. So far as this might also mean
that religion is thing not of words bu, OF
|life, it might of perfect truth be said of oui
friend But am not satisfied with that kind of
Expression. do not fear to say of him h,
had religion TO speak of. though he rarely
spoke of it himself, never by way of asserting
ANY merit of his own. Yet he was firm be !!
|licver and a constant doer in the work of our
church and denomination. interested in our!
schools, on the board of trustrees of West
brook Seminary, liberal giver for all our|
work. But he did not confine his generosity
10 his own sect. but gave freely TO help OF
every good work by whomsover done. do not
khink he cared much for theology or dogmas OIL
lanv kind | never discussed with him ouas